Kitchen faucets: how do different brands rank?

[Ajanta]

As I mention in another thread, we are looking for a kitchen faucet. We have short-listed Moen (which is what we have), Delta (a neighbor has it), American Standard and Kohler (Both recommended by a Home Depot worker).

I am wondering what you think of the relative quality of these brands in the $100-150 range (for chrome models)?

The HD guy said Delta was the worst, Moen next up, and AS and Kohler the best of the lot. He seemed to imply that AS would offer the best value (he demonstrated how one of their models was heavier than other brands), and that Moen's problem is that they don't use "ceramic disc valves".

A wild card here is a Danze model in steel finish that lists for $181 and some place is clearing them out for $40. But, to be honest, that's my only reason for considering it.

I would appreciate all comments based on your experience.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

I'm curious as to how he came up with the rankings. I've had Delta in my houses for years and a Moen in the kitchen for the past 20 years. Since they are virtually trouble free, I can't see how they can be bottom ranked. One of the Deltas did have the seals replaced about 15 years ago. Ten minutes and about $3 for the parts.

I have no experience with the other brands.

[Seth Goodman]

In this newsgroup, I'd say people have historically rated Moen #1 and Delta #2. Personally, I have used Delta for many years, and have had very few problems with them. Parts are very easy to get, but rarely required. Newer Delta and Moen faucets have lifetime warranties. Furthermore, a quick check of the Moen web site shows that numerous models *do* have ceramic disk valves.

I'd guess the salesman was pushing you towards the brands with the highest margins.

[darrendragos]

I doubt the HD "guy" was pushing for higher margians. More likely was pushing for anything to show off his supposed knowledge to impress a customer. Don't know how HD works in your part of the planet, but here they've gone from hiring ex-tradesmen to hiring ex- cons, or their equivelent. IN addition, the coporation has fprced managers to slash hours and budgets to such a degree, no one is working full time anymore. Methinks they're the next WalMart.

I'd seriously look into Grohe. Put it in once. Anything available at HD or Lowes has to meet their price point. So even if it's a top of the line model, you're buying a cheaper version the manufacturer had to produce just for the box store shelves.

Same holds true for toilets and tubs which are shortchanged on the glazing and quality control department, and power tools which will have plastic, instead of metal gears and cogs.

[Bill]

Faucets need service from time to time. How much do replacement parts cost is the question! (These can be quite expensive.)

Same thing with vacuum cleaners. How much are replacement bags/filters?

The initial cost may be low, but they will make it up on replacement parts. Beware!

[Stubby]

Try

for some good faucets. I'm still very pleased with my Chicago faucet in the kitchen but it was pricey. The unit doesn't drip, the chrome-on-brass is still in perfect shape with no chipping, etc.

Seth Goodman wrote:

[RPS]

: I doubt the HD "guy" was pushing for higher margians. More likely was : pushing for anything to show off his supposed knowledge to impress a : customer...

This seems more likely as I don't think HD employees get commissions. Also, let's not forget the possibility that it could have been his honest opinion, whether it agrees with ours or not.

Best OP or any of us can do is to sample several opinions and go from there. Good luck.

[Nick Hull]

My experience with Moen is poor. Silt in my water supply means frequent disassembly and repair/replacement. Delta has less trouble. YMMV

[John Weiss]

I just bought a Kohler for our newly remodeled kitchen. Frankly, it was only because they had a "high rise" model that looked good, and none of the others I saw had anything similar for a reasonable price. You can get them for $100, but of course OUR sink required the $180 version (widely spaced holes; required 4 separate units).

"Ceramic disk valves" may be good, but they are not the only point of failure. I had a Price-Pfister faucet on the old sink; it had the combo faucet/sprayer on an extendible hose. I had had to change the faucet/sprayer assembly twice in 9 or 10 years because it would leak or stick. Each time, it was over half the price of an entire new unit!

My new Kohler has a separate sprayer...

[DIMwit]

Each time I needed replacement parts for my Price Pfister kitchen faucet, I got them for free from Price Pfister, using their "pforever" warranty, including the diverter and faucet cartridges.

Bob

"John Weiss" wrote >>

[GWB]

A plumber, whom I trusted, once told me: "Don't buy anything, but Delta."

[Malcolm Hoar]

Price Pfister are very serious about honoring their warranty and some. I too have had a number of expensive parts sent free of charge.

Grohe and Kohler seem to offer comparable service levels although I have only called upon those manufacturers one time each.

[Chuck B.]

Price-Pfister will send you new parts for free. I just got a new cartridge for my kitchen faucet. Cost me $5.00 for shipping. They sent me the wrong one cause the design had changed. My faucet was 10 years old. I called and they sent the correct one. NO charge at all. Said I had already paid the one time shipping charge. They even overnighted the part. Good folks.

[kellyj00]

I've bought a couple "Pegasus" brand in my house. Both lever type...one in kitchen and one in bath. Kitchen was $80 (high rise, beautiful faucet IMHO) and bathroom $40 (basic chrome).

Both have made it more than a year without any trouble, they hook up easily as any other faucet and feel solid. I replaced a moen in my kitchen...it felt cheap and flimsy...but I didn't buy it so it may have been a bargain basement moen.

Jason Kelly Valley Center, KS

[mgkelson]

I had a Moen faucet in the kitchen for about 20 years and it finally broke, which is OK. I think 20 years of use is probably reasonable.

The big problem, however, came when I tried to buy something to replace it. I couldn't find anything, including the new Moen faucets, that had a large enough base to cover the footprint left by the old faucet. As it turned out Moen had discontinued that particular model. So, now with the new faucet, there is about 1/8" showing on my stainless steel sink all around the faucet.

I did all of the scrubbing I could, but there is still discoloration that shows where the old faucet was. It's really not to bad and you have to look close to see it. Still, the situation did make me angry with Moen and I haven't completely got over it yet. What kind of company would design a faucet with a large foot print and then come out with a line of new ones 20 years later that all have a smaller footprint?

Maybe all faucet manufacturer's do that sort of thing. I dunno, but I'll never buy another Moen again, if I can help it.

[Mike M.]

I am a custom home builder and have seen every kind of plumbing fixture you can imagine. Expensive does NOT equate to high-quality. More than a few absurdly wealthy clients want very specific brands/models because they've seen them in a design center or had them recommended by someone...and money is no object. While some of these high-end products are just fine, more than a few present challenges from assembly and installation to availability of parts. And some tend to like to change models often. That would be okay except in cases where the "guts" of the fixture change as well. Try finding a replacement part for a fixture that was only manufactured for 2 years.

Here is your safe bet ... regardless of the Home Depot "expert's" opinion. Delta, Moen and Kohler are tried and true. And they typically rank price wise in that same order, i.e., Delta/Moen/Kohler. But here's the twist. They are not all "created equal." Some (not all) of the models carried in the DIY stores can be lower-end. They look similar to another Moen faucets (for example), but they're built to the specs to meet cost demands of the DIY big boxes. To avoid this, find a reputable fixture supplier ... someone like Ferguson's Supply ... in your area. Take a picture and/or model number of a faucet you've found at Home Depot/Lowes, etc., and have them compare it to what they supply. Chances are it may be a little more expensive, but you'll be getting the quality you expect. Btw, those supply places will also have ridiculously expensive fixtures as well. Don't be intimidated or upsold. Stick to the "real" Delta, Moen, Kohler brands and you likely won't be disappointed.

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Our 20 YO custom built home has all Delta products in the kitchen and 4 bathrooms. No trouble so far.

[Ed Pawlowski]

I'm not a pro, but a homeowner for 49 years. I've had all three of those brands with excellent results.

I'd be more influenced by the features and style I want, brand name second. The Moen in the kichen is about 28 years old. I recently replaced the Delta in the bathrooms with Kohler after 34 years because of a remodel, but they were still working.

[thekmanrocks]

I bough an $82 Delta single-handle kitchen faucet installed two years ago and for the last 3 months you have to turn it off 2-3x to get it to stop dripping. Highway robbery if you ask me!

[Ed Pawlowski]

Can be rebuilt for about 5 bucks and 5 minutes.